Our Movers and Shakers series spotlights Aotearoa's leading sustainability professionals transforming the way we design, build and operate our buildings and homes. These are the people leading the charge for a more sustainable environment in Aotearoa.
Tom Slade
Head of Environmental Sustainability at Goodman, Tom Slade is helping shape the resilient building and urban biodiversity regeneration space. Since moving from London to Auckland in 2010, he’s been part of the Goodman NZ team, leveraging his experience in financial analysis, real estate fund management and the urban property sector.
Tom’s a key player in advancing Goodman’s smart, green pathway in Aotearoa’s industrial property marketplace. Amongst other roles he’s a NZGBC Green Star Advisory Committee member and a board trustee for Resource Recovery Devonport.
What triggered your interest and engagement with the campaign for healthy, efficient, green buildings?
On a personal level I’ve always enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether that’s trail running, open water swimming or simply being close to nature. Working in the property sector has given me an opportunity to contribute to the built environment by helping develop greener buildings that lessen our impact on that natural environment. When I eventually hang up my keep-cup, I’d like to look back and know that I’ve helped improve environmental outcomes for Auckland, so future generations can enjoy a lasting connection with nature.
You’ve been part of a ‘sustainable leadership in real estate’ programme at the University of Cambridge. Your big takeouts?
We looked at examples of where sustainable leadership has achieved the best results and one theme came through consistently: effective collaboration and avoiding work in silos. Fortunately Kiwis are really good at rolling up their sleeves and working together as a team, so that collaborative approach is embedded across the way we do business and interact with our industry peers.
The other big takeaway was around getting the most out of technology to improve the energy performance of our buildings. A lot of that comes down to how we, as property owners, developers and managers, collaborate and work alongside our customers to understand how buildings are used and identify opportunities to improve performance.
Is sustainable leadership increasingly visible in our property industry?
You can see tangible examples of leadership from developers and investors through the increased take-up of green certification. That’s lifted the quality of industrial property and given customers the opportunity to align their spaces with their sustainability targets. It’s been rewarding to see first-hand how our customers are embracing sustainability initiatives such as electrification and more energy efficient use of buildings to help meet their own sustainability ambitions.
What is your most powerful argument for adopting sustainable building practices?
Creating better performing buildings with lower operating costs. That helps our customers reduce emissions and get more from the spaces they operate. When we get that right, we have stronger, longer-lasting relationships with our customers and more resilient real estate.
The term – a new generation of buildings - is often bandied around. What does it look like for you?
We’ve seen a clear step up in the quality of our buildings since Goodman started targeting 5 Star Green Star ratings for all our developments about six years ago. These developments have typically been around 40 percent more energy efficient than other prime industrial buildings. Smart features like inbuilt lighting sensors and electrical submetering give our customers more insights and control over their energy use. We’re using what we’ve learned from these developments to retrofit our older generation assets.
The need to regenerate nature and biodiversity in the commercial built environment is a hot topic. Is it happening?
It’s happening in pockets but to be more meaningful it needs better coordination across urban biodiversity corridors. Over the past four years we’ve planted three urban Ngahere projects in core industrial estates where we see links to established ecological corridors. We’ll be tracking biodiversity markers against a baseline year to measure progress.
What’s the biggest buzz of your role?
Collaborating with really smart people who share a genuine passion and commitment for doing things better. Over the past few years I’ve been fortunate to work alongside people who bring a powerful energy and expertise to delivering projects that will make a long-term difference.
What is your favourite green building here or overseas?
In New Zealand I have a soft spot for Goodman’s own Tāwharau Lane at Highbrook in Auckland. This is New Zealand’s first 6 Star Green Star industrial development. I’m also particularly proud of the Ngahere we planted as part of the project.
Overseas I’ll go for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London). It’s one of the world’s most sustainable sports grounds, with a focus on energy and water efficiency and zero waste to landfill. They source food locally, have low-emission burgers and a reusable beer cup scheme. Hopefully we can add a silver cup to those reusable ones by the end of the season!